LESSMAN — Shirley Lessman, 85, went home to be with her Lord on Nov. 20, 2024, at the Woolwich Gardens Assisted Living Facility.
She is survived by her loving husband, Anthony Lessman, a sister, Louise Trost, three children, eight grandchildren, two great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
She was born on Jan. 28, 1939 and raised on a farm in Palestine, Illinois. She found employment as a secretary in a Veterans Hospital and soon thereafter, on New Years Eve 1958, met an Air Force Veteran named Tony who was a student in a technical institute.
They’d go on to share a 64 year marriage blessed by three children, Deborah (Brent) Keane, Stephen (Stephanie) Lessman and Susan Lessman-Murtha; and later by grandchildren Jessica, Andrew, Elizabeth, Catherine, Sarah, Kylie, Shelby and Luke; and great grandchildren Liam and Hannah.
Though she worked as a secretary in Monmouth County for Cablevision for 16 years, Shirley found her real calling as a mom, grandmom and great grandmom. She cooked with the best of them. Her stuffed cabbage and stuffed peppers drew rave reviews.
She liked to sing, usually doing karaoke in Florida, and sang a duet with her husband in a local play held at the Stratton School in 2009. She was a member of a singing group, The Silvertones, who entertained residents of assisted living facilities in the local area.
It was just part of her creative side which included doing ceramics with her kids. She enjoyed various card games including Cribbage, Pinochle, Card Bingo and Poker. Relaxing times found her with a book in her hand, a voracious reader usually making her way through a romance novel.
And she experienced most of the country, travelling about in her motor home. Shirley was also a long-time member of the local seniors’ group, Aged to Perfection.
If her T.V. was on, she’d be watching Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune or perhaps, the Antiques Road Show.
Shirley and Tony lived in Jackson for 40 years before moving to Woolwich in 2006
Her life was celebrated at Daley Life Celebration Studio, 1518 Kings Highway, Swedesboro. The family has requested donations in her memory to The Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org.
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WARNER — Ernest David Warner, age 85 of Mickleton, passed away on Nov. 26, 2024.
Born in Oklahoma City on Dec. 23, 1938 to the late Ernest Henry Warner Jr. and Janel (Norvell), he graduated from Woodbury High School Class of 1957 where he excelled in wrestling and anything automotive. Dave enlisted with the US Army (1961-1964), and served as a Military Police Officer in Ankara, Turkey and Alexandria, VA.
There was a day when he was working in the Labor Pool at Mobil Research (Paulsboro, NJ), likely moving some filing cabinets into the secretary pool area when he caught the eye of his future bride, Betty Ann. Not soon after, the triple-ribbon on Betty Ann’s typewriter needed replacing, and wouldn’t you know who was walking by… Dave offered to replace the ribbon, Betty Ann accepted the help (even though she could do it herself), and after many Red Horseman Picnic’s later, Betty Ann and Dave married on Feb. 1, 1964.
He worked as an extruding technician and instrument shop mechanic at the Shell Polypropylene plant in West Deptford, NJ, which later changed ownership to the Huntsman Corporation. After surviving an industrial explosion in January, 1972, Dave pursued the emerging computer industry and became a self-taught LAN/WAN architect.
Throughout the late 1970’s, it was not uncommon to see arrays of Radio Shack TRS-80 consoles setup throughout the dining room. Dave’s pursuit and passion of automotive collection and repair was built into his DNA. He would often say “Betty Ann knows where to find me. I’ll be in the garage.”
In the late 70’s/early 80’s, Dave taught a motorcycle repair class at GCC. The final exam was to construct a functioning motorcycle out of spare parts. His students always passed, because he was always there to guide them.
In later years, Dave would say, “If someone built it, I can fix it”, and he had the tools and determination to support that claim.
Dave was a consistent presence during the summers at Raccoon Valley Swim Club managing the starting gun to fire off swimming events. He always supported his sons’ hobbies and pursuits, and in later years helped Betty Ann set up her Apron Shows.
Upon retirement, Dave continued to tinker in the garage, shed and basement. He travelled the world with Betty Ann and helped support both his sons through challenging stages of their own lives, oftentimes travelling to their homes to help with childcare and home maintenance.
Dave was a member of the Salem County Sportsmen’s Club. He took pride in teaching safe firearm handling skills to all who would listen. He was an NRA Safety Instructor and Range Manager.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Elizabeth Ann “Betty Ann” Warner (nee Schoener); two sons, Michael Warner and his wife Natalie of Roosevelt, NJ and Steven Warner and his wife Christina of Logan Twp.; three granddaughters, Rachel, Kelby, and Katherine, two sisters, Jean Ann Wipf and her husband Doug, and Diane Wheaton and her husband Jim Fendler; and nieces and nephews, Carol Stauffer & her husband Tom, Gregory Warner & his wife Seiko, and Laura Wipf and her husband Simon. Dave was predeceased by his brothers, Jerry Dean Warner and his wife Terry and James “Jim” Joseph Warner.
As an expression of sympathy, contributions can be made to Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors, 525 Ottawa Ave., NW, Front, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 or at www.phoenix-society.org. Memories & condolences can be shared at www.smithfhmantua.com.
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SCHWEIGART — Joseph B. Schweigart age 79 years of Mickleton, passed away on Dec. 11, 2024 in his home surrounded by his family.
He was born in Woodbury and lived in National Park growing up. Mr. Schweigart retired after 40 years of service as Certified Public Works Manager for East Greenwich Township. After his retirement he continued to work as an inspector for Federici and Akin in Washington Township for several years.
He was a 30 year member of N.J.W.W.A and S.J.W.A., 40 year member of Clarksboro Masonic Lodge #87 F. & A.M., life member of East Greenwich Fire and Rescue Association where he served as Past Fire Chief for 20 years, and a 40 year member of the East Greenwich Democratic Club. He enjoyed coaching girls’ softball, hunting and fishing, playing golf and trips to the Casinos.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Alice Schweigart (nee Miller) of Mickleton; his daughter, Kristine and Tom Cox Jr. of Clarksboro; his grandchildren, Thomas J. Cox, Rachel Cox and Danielle Taylor; his brothers, David and Barbara Schweigart of Williamstown, Raymond and Gladys Schweigart of Deptford, Michael and Anne Schweigart of Pitman; his sisters, Mary Jane Conto of Crisfield, MD, Nancy and Charles Schriver of West Deptford; his sister in law, Maryann Kern of Pennsauken; his nephew, Chris Kern and several nieces and nephews. Mr. Schweigart was predeceased by his daughter, Vicky Schweigart and his brothers, John and Bill Schweigart.
The Funeral service was held in the McBride-Foley Funeral Home, 228 West Broad St., Paulsboro. Memories can be shared at www.mcbridefoleyfh.com.
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MATLACK — Ruth Rode Matlack, age 89, of Beavercreek Township, OH peacefully left this world on Dec. 8, 2024. Ruth was born on June 26, 1935 to the late Ralph Rode and Freda (Seend) Sharp in Swedesboro.
An alumna of Woodstown High School, Ruth graduated in 1954 and dedicated her life to caring for others as a nurse for over 40 years. Her nurturing spirit shone brightly during her tenure at the Memorial Hospital of Salem County, eventually becoming the Assistant Administrator at the Salem County Nursing Home.
She was married to the late Harold H. Matlack for 64 years. Ruth is survived by her beloved daughters, Jayne (Joel) Whitaker and Carla (Sal, Col. USAF, ret) Nodjomian, as well as her cherished grandchildren: Freeman Whitaker, Adam (Aaron) Nodjomian-Escajeda, and Jason (Regan) Nodjomian.
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SHARP — Jean K Sharp, 88, passed away on Dec. 12, 2024 after battling dementia. She was the daughter of the late Author and Rose (Willis) Kerswill.
Jean graduated from Swedesboro High and Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Wilmington. Nursing was her passion. The patients she helped and her co-workers loved her. Friends and family would often call for medical advice and most of the time her diagnosis would be right but, of course, she could not prescribe the medicine they needed and would send them to the doctor.
Jean’s faith was bold and strong. She was often the first person to greet you in church if you were new to the congregation. She was always inviting people for holiday dinners if their families were not close by, to spend it with her family.
When the Sharp family went on vacation, Jean would search for a church close by to attend. “If you played on Saturday night, you can pray on Sunday morning!”
One of Jean’s many gifts was hospitality. She loved to cook, try new recipes, and plan special parties. She would often make a delicious dinner, after both daughters declared there was “nothing to eat in the refrigerator” after school.
Of course, her real calling in life was as a wife, mother and grand and great grandmother. Jean was married to the late Irving Sharp. They shared 64 years of marriage together and blessed with two daughters, Terri Overbey and Carol (Larry) Gardiner; and later by grandchildren Garrison Overbey, Cameron (Kelsie) Overbey, Benjamin (Abbie) Overbey, Caitlin (Phelan) Cole and Grant (Kelli) Gardiner and four great-grandsons. Her life was celebrated at Daley Life Celebration Studio, 1518 Kings Highway, Swedesboro. Interment Lake Park Cemetery.
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TOMARCHIO — Sebastiano “Benny” Tomarchio, 77.
For this one farmer, the worries are through, lie down and rest your head
Your time has been, and struggles enough, the tractor’s in the shed.
You raised a fine family, worked the land well and toiled in the sun.
We’ve hung the shovel in the barn, your work on earth is done.
Benny loved the land, working year-round on his farm, hands in the soil, growing his vegetables. He’d always be found in a T-shirt with a pocket and an extra layer of clothing. End of harvest season at the Bald Eagle Farm found him proudly hosting his annual pig roast for friends and family.
Wintertime found him working sundry other jobs, but he could never quite reconcile working for other people. He loved watching old movies and especially action flicks; the more violent the better.
He was raised on his family’s Harrisonville Road farm and was a graduate of Kingsway Regional High School class of ’66. He raised three children with Cookie, his wife of 48 years: Angela (Brian) Wellman, Marianne DeMarco and Angelo (Amy); and was blessed with four grandchildren, Joey, Matthew, Amelia and Annabella.
Services by Daley Life Celebration Studio, Swedesboro.
Donations to American Cancer Society (cancer.org) will be appreciated.
